Argos teams with West One Technology for recycling scheme

Retailer will give instant quotes on old phones and tablets over which it will swap for vouchers in over-the-counter trade-ins

Argos has partnered with West One Technology to launch a mobile recycling scheme which will offer in-store vouchers in exchange for old mobile phones and tablets.

The retailer will offer instant quotes at any of its 788 UK stores as part of the scheme, which it is running in association with recycling charity WRAP.

Items traded in will be wiped, then refurbished and sold on, or recycled for parts by London-based recyclers West One, which according to its website has over 30 years experience recycling mobiles.

The scheme has been set up in association with charity WRAP, who also works with Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer, according to its website.

Research from WRAP estimates UK households have around £1 billion worth of unused electrical goods in their home, with two thirds of those polled willing to trade-in their goods to a reputable retailer. (Poll was of 1,200 households)

The scheme will initially include mobile phones and tablets, but could be extended to include Satnavs, cameras and laptops in the future, according to Argos head of corporate responsibility Amy Whidburn.

She added: “As a leading technology retailer we know that our customers are looking for solutions to responsibly dispose of unwanted gadgets when they replace or trade-up devices.

“By working with WRAP, we’ve been able to find the most effective path for our business to offer this and achieve wide-scale company buy-in to the business model. A model that has scalability, commercial potential and credibility, which all adds critical value to our brand.”